England and Surrey fast bowler Jamie Overton has suffered a stress fracture to his spine and is expected to be out for an unknown period of time.
The 28-year-old was in the United Arab Emirates and was due to play for the Gulf Giants in the inaugural ILT20 competition.
Overton returned home for further tests where the fracture was confirmed.
Surrey said he will now begin a period of rehabilitation, but did not confirm how long he will be out.
England start this summer’s Ashes at Edgbaston on June 16 while the Surrey County Championship season kicks off against Lancashire on April 6.
Overton made his Test debut for England against New Zealand at Headingley in June last year and scored a first inning 97 with the bat to help turn the tide of victory in England’s direction.
He took 34 wickets in 10 games and scored 355 runs for Surrey in their 2022 County Championship title campaign.
However, he missed two months last summer with hand and foot injuries, including being part of the Manchester Originals squad in The Hundred.
It is the second time Overton have suffered a stress fracture in his back after the same injury was prematurely called off in his 2016 season when he was with Somerset.
